Staple feed mechanism for fastener applying machines



F. POLZER Feb. 29, 1944.

STAPLE FEED MECHANISM FOR FASTENERAPPLYING MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 18, 1942 Patented Feb. 29, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STAPLE FEED MECHANISM FOR FASTENER APPLYING MACHINES Fridolin Polzer, Norwalk, Conn., assignor to The E. H. Hotchkiss Company, Norwalk, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Original application February 18, 1942, Serial No. 431,352. Divided and this application August '26, 1942, Serial No. 456,230

This invention relates to fastener driving machines particularly of the type for driving substantially u -shaped -or similar iasteners, and more especially to the mechanism for feeding" the fasteners to the driving position and means for facilitating loading of the fasteners in the machine.

It is object of the invent-ion to provide an improved and simplified means for releasing the fastener feed mechanism so "that it may be readily shifted to a position to permit easy insertion of the fasteners in the machine, but will be so constructed that :there is practically no danger of its being inadvertently released during handling and operation of the machine.

It is also .an object to provide a release for the leading mechanism to permit loading, which may be operated with one hand, and in fact a single nger of that hand.

It is another object to provide a structure of the type in which practically all the parts may be made of press-work and stamped and formed from sheet metal of a suitable gauge or thickness.

With the foregoing and other objects in View I. have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming ;a part of this specification. It, however, is to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arran ement shown but may embody various changes :and modificationswithin the scope of the invention.

In the drawing;

Fig.1 is a partial side elevation of the machine with .parts broken away and other parts shown in section;

Fig. .2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transversesection substantially on line 55-13 of Fig. l, and

Figs. dandfi'are transverse sections on a somewhat larger scale taken respectively on lines 14- 4 and 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal .section :of the rear portion of the machine showing the ifinge'r piece disengaged from the catch.

Thi application isa division .ofmyprior application for .zpatent for fastener driving machines, Serial No. 431,352, filed February 18, 1942.

The machine illustrated is for driring substantially ueshaped fasteners or staples. .but :thesame machine may :be used to drive various typesio'f fasteners, such for example as two-pronged staples, tacks .and the like, it bein necessary to merely change the shape and size of the fastener guiding and seeding means and the driver to suit the type and size of fastener used.

The device or machine illustrated comprises an elongated body member I having a horizontal portion substantially :U-shaped in cross section forming ahandle at one end and .at its forward end having laterally spaced upright extensions 2 on the side walls forming ahead portion. This memberimay be stamped and formed from heavy sheet metal of suitable thickness, and therefore may be press-work rather thana casting. It encloses the fastener support or guide -3 which extends longitudinally of the horizontal portion and is also preferably of substantially U-Shape with its side walls ti spaced from the side walls 5 of the body I to provide spaces for the prongs of the fasteners, in the illustration shown substantially ll shaned staples '6. supported on the topof the guide 3 with'their cross bars 1 res in on the top of the supp rt .3, s shown in Figs. 1 and a. The side walls 401' theistaple support-and guide may :be inclined somewhat as shown i Figs. 3, 4 and .5, so. "that the guide is somewhat wider at the top than at the. bottom, and if the staples or fasteners aresimilarly shaped with the side prongs inclined inwardly they will grip the guide and vhe held from a tendency to move off 'thejguide, but t e device is not 1-limited t9 the use of such staples or fasteners but may use staples or .fasteners having :paralle-l prongs. Spaced a short distance above the vguide and support .53 is a closure member .8 for closin the top of the horizontal portion of the body and lso .iornune :a guide -for the staples to retain them on t-he guide and support 3. This may also e of su stantially lJ-shape in cross section to lit between the side wall of the bodyv and may be secured therein by any suitable means such as weldin or cross rivets. This :m mber' m y also he formed from sheet metal of suitable thickness.

Enclosing the rear :end portion of the handle body '1 is a hand ip 9 which may be *of'any suitable material, such .for exampl as rubber; wood or other composition I -;Fasteners .6 are red ::.al on e the 'supn tand guide 3 to the driving position by a feed mech- :anism including a .fol-lower H! of substantia ly inverted :U shaped cross section, so as to rest on top of the g ide 3 and embrace the sides thereof ...and it includes a downwardly extending loop I! embracing randslidable Dn-arod 12 about which is a i h .i ed sp g- 13 tending more the follower iorwardly and t the fasteners to carry-them to the rdrirms. position. "The end of the rod may hepenlarsed was :shown'at i4 :to prevent :the lfollower sliding offhand the dol -lower may have a downwardly extending hp on,

its forward end to engage the rear wall l6 of the staple raceway or guideway 11 to prevent the forward end of the follower from being carried into the raceway under the driver [8. The rear end of the horizontal portion of the body I is open for insertion of the staple or fastener strips onto the support and guide 3, and the rod I2 is supported by a member [9 having an upright wall 29 forming a finger grip and a horizontal wall 2! having a slot or similar opening 22 to receive the hook 23 on a retaining catch 24 pivoted between the side walls of the body by a transverse rivet 25. A spring 26 on the opposite side of the pivot tends to force the hook 23 downwardly to engage in the slot or opening 22 in the wall 21 of member [9 and under the cross wall 21 of this member at the inner end of the slot to retain the member l9 and the rod l2 in position.

If it is desired to remove the rod and follower to insert a new strip of staples or fasteners the member 19 is merely pushed inwardly or forwardly by the finger placed against the upper part of the upright wall 29 until the cross bar 21 clears the hook 23. Then the hook may be lifted by engaging the same or a different finger under the free end 28 of the catch 24, lifting the hook from the member l9 and permitting it to be drawn outwardly with the rod l2 and the follower. As the spring 26, however, immediately returns the catch 24 to the lower position, the hook 23 will engage the rear end of the follower l9 and prevent its dropping from the machine inadvertently, or its complete removal from the machine unless desired. However, if it is desired to remove the follower and the rod l2 from the machine to permit insertion of a strip of fasteners, the hook 23 may be lifted to allow this. It will be seen from Fig. 1 that as the hook 23 is inclined forwardly under the cross wall 21 and the spring l3 tends to shift the member 19 rearwardly, the wall 21 is retained in the hook and effectively prevents inadvertent lifting of the catch- 24 to release the member [9. In other words, in order to release the hook of the catch from the member 19 it is first necessary to force the member I9 forwardly against action of the spring 13 sufficiently to carry the cross wall 21 out of the hook 23. For the same reason merely pushing the member 19 inwardly will cause the inclined or rounded under edge 230. (Fig. 6) of the hook to ride up on the cross wall 21 until this wall passes beyond the end of the hook at which time the catch 24 drops and the hook enters the slot 22. When pressure on member 19 is then released it is shifted backwardly or outwardly by spring l3 carrying cross wall 22 into the hook, as shown in Fig. 1, and securing member I9 in position. Therefore after the strip of fasteners is inserted in the machine on the the guide 3 the follower l9 and member l9 are inserted by merely pushing them into the machine onto the guide 3 through the open rear end.

The mechanism for driving the fasteners is mounted at the forward portion of the body.

Although substantially U-shaped staples or fasteners are shown it will be understood that "other shapes and types of fasteners may be emapplication above noted and comprises the driver 18 of a thickness for the width or thickness of the staple or fastener to be used and is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement between the side walls 2 of the body member and the back wall of a removable front plate 39 which extends downwardly to a point adjacent the striking wall 3|. The removable front plate 39 is retained in position relative to the front wall 29 by means of a flat spring 33 secured to the front wall 29. The plate 39 and the driver i8 are in back of the front wall 29 of the head portion, the removable plate 39 being between the driver and the front wall 29 and forms a forward guide for thedriver. The lower end portion of the plate 39 is spaced forwardly from the forward end of the support or guide 3 a distance substantially that of or slightly wide than the thickness of the staple or fastener to form a guideway or raceway l1 for the fasteners through which they are forced by the driver l8 and driven into the object which is to be fastened. The lower end portion of the plate 39 is held in this position by the lower end 32 of the spring 33 which is secured to the front wall 29 by any suitable means such as the rivets 34, and this permits the lower end of the plate 39 forming the front wall of the raceway l1 to move forwardly or yield a short distance should a staple or fastener of slightly oversize be forced into the raceway, and thus prevents jamming of a staple or fastener in the raceway and clogging of the machine.

The lower end portion of the plate 39 could also spring slightly to release a jammed fastener or one slightly oversize. The upper end portion 35 of the spring is used to releasably retainthe front plate 39 in position. For this purpose the spring is provided with a T-head or cross bar 36 and plate 39 is bent forwardly and recessed to provide the spaced lugs 31 which may engage under the cross bar 36 to thus retain the plate 39 and prevent its being drawn upwardly with the driver. The lugs 31 rest on the top edge of the front wall 29 to determine its lower position and retain it against downward movement. By merely springing the top portion 35 of the spring outwardly as shown in dotted lines Fig. 1, the front plate 39 is released and may be raised as indicated by the dotted lines and removed from the machine. After this plate is removed the driver I8 may be released from its operating mechanism and also removed.

Various types of mechanism may be used for operating the driver. In that illustrated, the driver i8 is provided with an opening to seat over a lug 39 on the front edge of a block 49 pivotally mounted in the forward end of the hammer lever 4|. The block 49 supports the driver and backs it up at its rear side so the driver is prevented from moving away from the front plate 39 and is held at the rear side of this plate. This lever is a weighted lever so that it will have sufficient weight or mass to operate the driver to set a fastener when the device is swung so that its forward end strikes an object. The forward end of the lever is forked, the sides of the fork being indicated at 42, in which fork the block 49 is mounted and in which it is supported for limited swinging movement by the transverse pivot pin 46. The lower edges of the sides 42 of the fork under this pivot are rounded as indicated at 41 to rest on shoulders 48 on the top of transverse ribs 49 on opposite sides of the block 49 whereby pressure from the lever 4| is transmitted directly to the block 49 in the fastener driving operation instead of through the pivot pin 46. The opposite ends of the pin 46 project beyond the sides of the fork so as to extend into and be guided'by upright uide slots 50 in the side walls 2 of the body member, these slots extending through the top.

edges of these walls for easy insertion and removal. At the top portion of each of the side walls 2 is a rearward extension or lug forming a stop shoulder 52 to be engaged by the ends 53 of the transverse stop pin, as indicated in Fig. =1,

to limit upward movement of the lever.

The hammer lever 4| is mounted in a movable hollow hand lever 54, this latter lever being preferably of a substantially inverted U-shape in cross section and stamped and formed from sheet metal 9 of a suitable thickness. It is pivoted to the body member at 55 through downwardly extending lugs (not shown) on a small bracket 56 fastened to the under side of the body I by any suitable means such as rivets or welding. The sides 51 of the lever 54 are extended downwardly so as to enclose the hammer lever 4| and the head portion of the body to protect them and also help retain them in position as well as to cover them up to give a better appearance. The hammer lever 4| is pivoted to the handlever 54 by the cross bolt or rivet 58 extending between the side walls 57 and to permit free and unrestricted movement of the lever 4| this pivotal rivet passes through an elongated slot 59 in the lover. The

lever 4| is thus in effect a floating lever. A coil spring i6 mounted on the top wall 8 and under the lever 4| tends to move this lever and the lever 54 to the upper or normal position ready for a fastener driving operation and retain it therein. It may seat at its lower end over an upwardly extending lug 6| on the bottom wall of the member 8, and may seat at its upper end in therecess B2 in the under side of the lever. An additional flat spring 63 may also be mounted on the member 8 and engage under the lever 4| to help raise this lever and the lever 54, this spring also being mounted on the wall 8 and provided With an opening to seat over the lug SI and extends at its rear end under a cross pin 64 to retain it in'position on the member 8. A clip 65 mounted on the top wall of the lever 54 is extended downwardly and rearwardly to engage the member 8 when the lever is in its upper position to form a sort of cushion or resilient stop as the lever is moved to the upper position and reduce the blow of the stops 53 against the lugs 5|. On the top of the hand lever 54 is mounted a hand cushion or grip 66 of rubber or other suitable relatively soft or yieldable resilient material to cushion the pressure or blow against the hand when the device is used as a hand operated staple or fastener setting device, this cushion being secured to the lever by any suitable means, such as rivets 61. With this construction and arrangement the block 40, hammer lever 4| and hand lever 54 may operate as a unit. This-is the same mechanism as disclosed in my prior application above noted.

The striking surface 3| is on the lower side of the hammer member 68 stamped and formed of heavy metal to substantially U-shape and secured to the bottom wall of the body by way suitable means such as rivets 69 or welding. The same rivets can be used to fasten the staple guide or support 3 in the body.

In operation the machine is gripped by the handle grip 8 and by swinging it in the manner similar to swinging a hammer, the forward end and particularly the striking surface 3| is struck against the object to be fastened. This of course arrests the movement of the head end of the device but the inertia of the weight of the levers 4| and 54' will carry them downwardly to force the block 40 and driver I8 downwardly to drive a fastener through the raceway I1 into the object, after which the springs 60 and 63 will raise the levers and the driver to the upright or normalposition shown, at which the next following staple is fed by follower l0 and spring i3 into the raceway I! under the lower end of the driver into position preparatory for the next driving operation. If the device is to be used as a hand.

operated device the grip 9 is held in one hand with the surface 3| resting on the article to be fastened, then by pressing or a light blow on the cushion of the grip 66 with the other hand the levers 54 and 4| are forced downwardly carrying with them the driver i8 and driving a fastener into the work. Therefore the device is equally adapted for use either in the manner of a hammer or as a hand operated device. The fasteners are fed successively by the follower it] into the guideway H to a position under the driver l8 for each driving operation.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is: 1

1. In a fastener driving machine comprising body having spaced side walls, a fastener support and guide mounted between the side walls of said body, a follower mounted on the top of said support and slidable thereon to feed the fasteners along the support, a guide rod connected to the follower, a spring embracing the rod to force the follower forwardly, a supporting member connected to the outer end of the rod and located between the side walls of the body, said memberincluding an upwardly extending wall forming a finger grip and a horizontal wall having an opening, and a catch in the body having a hook engaging in said opening to retain said member in the body.

2. In a fastener driving machine comprising a body having spaced side walls, a fastener support and guide mounted between the side walls of said body, a follower to feed'the fasteners along the support, a guide rod connected to the follower, a spring embracing the rod to force the follower forwardly, a finger piece connected to the rod at its outer end and located between the side walls of the body and provided with a transverse wall, and a spring operated catch mounted in the body and having a downwardly and forwardly extending hook to engage under said transverse wall to retain the finger piece in position and require forward movement of said piece to permit release of the catch.

3. In a fastener driving machine comprising an elongated body including laterally spaced side walls forming a passage open at its outer end, a fastener support and guide mounted between the side walls and in said passage, a follower mounted on the top of said support and slidable thereon to feed the fasteners along the support, a guide rod connected to the follower, a spring embracing the rod to force the follower forwardly, a supporting member connected to the outer end of the rod and located at said open end of the passage, said member including an upright wall forming a finger grip and a forwardly extending wall having an opening, and a releasable catch in the body extending over said latter wall and having a downwardly extending hook to engage in said opening to retain said member in position.

4. In a fastener driving machine comprising an elongated body including laterally spaced side walls forming a passage open at its outer end, a fastener support and guide mounted between the side walls and in said passage, a follower mounted on the top of said support and slidable thereon to feed the fasteners along the support, a. guide rod connected to the follower, a spring embracing the rod to force the follower forwardly, a supporting member connected to the outer end of the rod and located at said open end of the passage, said member comprising an upright wall having a free upper end forming a finger grip and a, forwardly extending wall having an opening therein, a pivoted catch having a free end ex tending over said latter wall and terminating adjacent the finger grip, and a downwardly extending hook on the catch to engage in said opening to retain the member in position.

5. In a fastener driving machine comprising an elongated body including laterally spaced side walls forming a passage open at its outer end, a fastener support and guide mounted between the side walls and in said passage, a follower mounted on the top of said support and slidable thereon to feed the fasteners along the support, a guide rod connected to the follower, a spring embracing the rod to force the follower forwardly, a supporting member connected to the outer end of the rod and located at said open end of the passage, said member comprising an upright wall having a free upper end forming a finger grip and a forwardly extending wall having a slot therein, and a pivoted catch having a free end extending over said latter wall and terminating adjacent the finger grip, said catch having a downwardly and forwardly extending hook to enter the slot and engage under the forward end wall thereof and the lower side of the hook being inclined so as to ride up on the wall having the slot when the supporting member is pushed forwardly under the catch.

6. In a fastener driving machine comprising a body having spaced side walls, a fastener support and guide mounted between the side walls of said body, a follower to feed the fasteners along the support, a guide rod connected to the follower, a spring embracing the rod to force the follower forwardly, a finger piece connected to the rod at its outer end and located between the side walls of the body and provided with a transverse wall, a spring operated catch mounted in the body, and cooperating means on said catch and the transverse wall to retain the finger piece in position and so constructed and arranged as to require a forward movement of said piece to permit release of the catch.

7. In a fastener driving machine comprising an elongated body including laterally spaced side walls forming a passage open at its outer end, a fastener support and guide mounted between the side walls and in said passage, a follower mounted on the top of said support and slidable thereon to feed the fasteners along the support, a guide rod connected to the follower, a spring embracing the rod to force the follower forwardly, a supporting member connected to the outer end of the rod and located at said open end of the passage, said member including an upright transverse wall forming a finger grip and a forwardly extending wall, a releasable catch in the body adjacent said latter wall, and cooperating means on the catch and said wall to retain said member in position.

FRIDOLIN POLZER. 

